What Is the Evolutionary Purpose of Female Orgasm? | Robert King on Sex, Science & Taboo - Video

n this episode of Quillette Cetera, Zoe Booth speaks with evolutionary psychologist Robert King about the science of female orgasm, human sexual behaviour, and the political taboos that still surround sex research.

Dr King, a lecturer at University College Cork, shares insights from his upcoming book Naturally Selective (Taylor & Francis, 2024), which explores the evolutionary logic of female sexual pleasure. The conversation covers animal models, female–female competition, oxytocin, fake orgasms, and the legacy of Stephen Jay Gould—offering a provocative yet evidence-based look at how science, culture, and ideology collide in the study of sex.

???? Topics include:

Is female orgasm an evolutionary adaptation?

Why has science overlooked women's sexual pleasure?

How politics distorts sex research

What dating behaviour reveals about human evolution

The rise of hybristophilia and sexual fascination with violence

???? Learn more about Dr King’s work at Quillette.com

???? Subscribe to Quillette Cetera for more conversations on science, culture, and free thought.

#RobertKing #FemaleOrgasm #EvolutionaryPsychology #SexualBehaviour #QuilletteCetera #ZoeBooth #NaturallySelective #SciencePodcast #HumanNature

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:28 Online Dating and Rejection
06:08 The Impact of Parenting on Relationships
09:01 Exploring the Female Orgasm
11:41 Theories of Female Orgasm
14:33 The Role of Oxytocin
17:19 Female Sexuality and Evolution
19:54 Understanding Female Ejaculation
26:20 The Nature of Female Orgasm and Its Implications
28:05 Real vs. Fake: The Science of Orgasm
29:46 Cultural Perspectives on Female Orgasm
32:17 Aloof vs. Intimate Societies: Impact on Female Sexuality
35:15 Female Competition and Insecurity
39:05 The Role of Evolutionary Psychology in Understanding Behavior
45:02 The Controversy Surrounding Evolutionary Psychology
50:15 Future Topics: Hybristophiles and Cultural Narratives

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Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values.

Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology.

Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship.

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